Browns hope they have right side of line solidified with Lauvao and Pashos (with video)

The right side of the Browns' offensive line has been under construction about as long as orange barrels and bulldozers have been common sites on Route 2.

Finally, after more than two years, the orange barrels might be coming down. At least the ones on the practice fields in Berea, that is.

From the first day of training camp, Coach Pat Shurmur set Shawn Lauvao at right guard and Tony Pashos at right tackle. As long as they remain healthy, they will remain the starters, because it doesn't seem anyone is going to push them out of the way.

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"The guys who went in there last year played really well," Pashos said Saturday after practicing at Cleveland Browns Stadium. "I think more of it is perception (that they didn't play well) than reality because there wasn't a standard one or two names.

"I think what we're looking for now is consistency and stability overall. It's five guys playing one position. It breeds stability and cohesiveness."

In 2009, the Browns never had the same guard-tackle combination on the right side for more than four straight games. Floyd Womack and John St. Clair broke that record last year with six straight starts at guard and tackle, but that didn't happen until the final six games. By then, the season was already trashed.

The left side was just the opposite. Tackle Joe Thomas, guard Eric Steinbach and center Alex Mack started all 16 games last year. Thomas and Mack were in the Pro Bowl.

It would be unfair to blame the constant change solely on indecisiveness by former coach Eric Mangini. Pashos, 6-foot-6, 325 pounds, started three straight games at right tackle after an ankle injury knocked St. Clair out of the third game.

Pashos suffered a major ankle injury in Pittsburgh in the sixth game and continued to play on it. The injury required surgery and he was placed on injured reserve. He spent most of the 10 weeks moving around on a scooter with his right ankle in a big walking boot.

Womack, now with Arizona, also played through injuries. More of a mystery, however, was Lauvao, a 2010 fourth-round draft pick from Arizona State.

Lauvao (6-3, 315) appeared to be the sure-fire starter at right guard coming out of minicamps last year, but early in training camp, he went home an extended period for personal reasons. Soon after he returned, he suffered an ankle injury, and that lingered -- though not for as long as he was on the bench.

Lauvao finally got his chance to start when the Browns played the Jaguars in Jacksonville on Nov. 21. It was an ugly game all around, and Lauvao never got another chance until now.

"The one thing I will say is it's always encouraging when the coaches really believe in you," Lauvao said Saturday. "It's always helpful when you have a veteran like Tony playing next to you.

"We have a new offense and a new offensive coordinator. The older guys make the transition a lot easier. I think I'm a better player than I was last year. The long offseason gave my body time to heal. I used (not playing in 2010) as motivation. I wanted to come in and compete and show I'm more than capable of what's asked of you."

Lauvao has to go against rookie defensive tackle Phil Taylor in practice. That is test enough, but the next big test for Lauvao and Pashos comes Saturday, when the Browns play the Packers in the preseason opener. Lauvao and Pashos are horses in front of Peyton Hillis.

"I think they did a nice job today," Shurmur said after the Saturday practice. "You always reserve judgment until you watch the tape. They've done a good job working together so far in camp. Offensive linemen have to play together. Every day that they can play together, it's going to be important for them."